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Topic: Living in a mobile home (Read 2000 times)

So here is the deal: I was married, then divorced out of nowhere. The woman pretended that she was some sort of victim, and that made me look like I was some sort of aggressor and bad person. We had to sell our home, because she bullied me into it. When it sold all the money ended up in her bank account and left me high and dry. I got a lawyer and ended up with a pocket full of pennies and unless I can drop another 10k on it to reopen the case files basically I am done. I have that money but it's better spent on a down payment for a new home I can call my own and get on with my life. Reopening the case doesn't mean a different outcome and I want to stop all the nonsense and just get back to living.

I've tried getting 2 houses already. Where I live, being pre approved for 280,000 doesn't get you much. I have a weird job in a niche market so I don't waqnt to move away and try to get myself reestablished. The two houses have been within budget but the mortgage lender didn't want to throw money at houses that had minor issues. I am annoyed but found a nice "double wide" mobile home at the end of a street with a nice garden, deck, hot tub. $150k which is well within budget.

I'll admit, I look down on trailer parks and the people residing within. I know there's no reason for me to think like this. Any thoughts on trailer park life? Anyone have any experiences or advice?

I've lived in mobile homes my entire life. They are easy to maintain and with regular maintenance and upkeep they'll last well beyond their intended lifespan. Also that thing about them being considered a vehicle is a good thing come tax time. Depending upon the laws in your region your insurance will be more like car insurance and depending upon how it's anchored it might not be considered a permanent residence which is good for tax purposes.

The only thing you have to worry about are water lines. Triple the insulation you'd put on them if they were in houses because without a brick foundation they aren't insulated enough and they will bust. Have a selection of the right size compression fittings handy just in case. If you are unlucky enough to get a leak the pex tubing they put in these things can be cut with a sharp knife and a compression sleeve can be put on with a couple of monkey wrenches and about 10 min of work. Personally I use the slip type compression fittings which don't even require wrenches, but some people don't like them for some reason.... I've never had any trouble .

Well since it is not any kind of investment anyway why that over just a 1-bedroom apartment. Donít tell me with interest on the loan and everything else that you are going to save more money on that than a small apartment because you are not.

It would be better to get a small apartment save up money and get a real place that increases in value over time instead of decreasing in value or in another 15 years you will look to see you still have nothing of value to your name.

I didn't list an apartment as an option. Apartments are gross, they smell in the hallways. You don't get a yard or a patio big enough for a set of furniture and a bbq. I have more than one vehicle, and a large collection of tools and yard equipment. I enjoy sitting in the grass. When I get home from work at 230 in the morning I don't want to pick up an acoustic guitar and have people pounding on my walls, floor and ceiling about it. The money I'd be losing by not living in a concrete beehive is negligible; I'm not really thinking of this as a long term, and definitely not 15 year option. Maybe 5 or 8 years, enough to build a pile of cash and hopefully try to get what I pay for this place. If I improve the lot and keep the building intact I imagine it won't be an unrealistic idea.

I looked at this, and while it might seem a nice idea, there are problems associated with it. Now it depends on how old you are. Personally I would (and did) buy a house if I was much younger, with the crap that usually comes with it like wife and kids. But if I was single and in my 50s or about, I would question the importance of buying a house when I know I would not pay it off. I know the benefits of owning a house and it has its fair share of pros and cons. Yet 2008 told me a huge lesson: live within your means. A house and a mobile home is the same in my opinion.

I do not like an idea of a typical mobile home. They are usually 24K minimum plus land and septic, electricity etc. They are a huge pain on the ---uvula--- to move and they usually fall apart if you do, and it costs lots to do so and where to put it etc. Buy a used one and it is like buying an old car. Also the land it is on might be rented and that could go up in price too and you are locked in with nobody to sell it to unless you find a sucker.

I would lean to maybe a tiny house with no septic (composting) and solar for 15K or maybe less if you are a carpenter. Or perhaps a van conversion or RV. Lots to think about. But I would have a big think on a mobile home unless you already have the land and it is zoned.

Sounds like your recent experience, is better suited to something smaller and less attractive to the nut job that usually comes calling. I would hate to experience that, and I am sorry you did, but if you can support yourself without the daily drive, think about getting out and finding something better in this huge country of ours. I'm looking into that, to save 1K a month in rent and having the freedom to travel and afford it. Besides when I am dead who would give a crap? You can bury me in it.

"I really do feel pity for those who go out of their way to perform a personal slight, than taking the effort in joining the conversation and creating some useful dialogue which would benefit the persons' perusal of this topic. Yet where would we be without the persistant antagonist?"

If an apt. isn't your thing and you're actively looking at mobile homes, why not just a cheapo travel trailer and find a mobile home park that will allow you to park it. Same outcome, but would likely be a lot cheaper.

Currently living in a camper. On my 20 acres, not a trailer park. Building my own dwelling out here next year. You don't need a new house. You need fewer bills and debts.

^this - depending on where you live buy a piece of property you like and get a small dwelling ( mobile home/trailer/camper depending on wht fits your needs best and budget) With buying the land you know what the monthly costs will be and can always build a house on it later if you find the mobile home doesn't suit you -- Not sure where you are but 150K for a used double wide is high - Unless it comes with a property it is placed on. (as ARK said --- "with nobody to sell it to unless you find a sucker." -- Don't be the sucker he is talking about in this scenario by buying the old one someone else is trying to unload !! ) - One thing to keep in mind is sometimes it is cheaper to buy one from the Mobile Home factory even if it is out of state and have it moved to you rather than buying one local - and the benefit to that is you can have it partially built to your specification ( ie. if you want 2 full Master suites at the two ends of the thing or 1 master and a couple smaller rooms - etc. )

Honestly the increase in your property value is not so you can come out ahead it is just so you can break even with inflation every year. Federal Reserve prints and pumps out more money into the economy based on nothing, as a result every year money becomes 3 to 5% more worthless than the year before. Thatís the reality of are debt based economy, only way to combat that is to put your money into something with a track record of increasing in value every year.

I used to work for a satellite company and some of the most down to earth people were the ones that lived in trailer parks. Don't get me wrong there were some places where I would question whether or not I would make it home that night but for the most part the people were some of the nicest. What it really comes down to Eds is where you want to live in the end. It sounds like you, like me, hate living on top of someone. I too hate apartments. But you can find some nice houses within your price range. You don't need to settle for a place in a trailer park if you aren't happy. I (PRESUMABLY), like Howard, live in a modest 1200 sq ft. trailer in the country on one acre. It is considered to be a modular but if I don't tell anyone they assume its stick built. Its on an acre and I have a 30X40 barn. Keep looking and if you are unhappy with a trailer park don't settle.

The thing is I can't afford a house that doesn't have enough issues to scare the bank into refusing to lend on a home. There was a foreclosure that was a steal that they said no to, and another home that admittedly had a foundation issue - but I guess they don't know me personally and my drive to fix every broken thing I see. I had an engineering company come and look at it, and the price for the home PLUS to lift the house and fix it was still less than what I qualify for but in the end it isn't my money to do with as I please.

This trailer is actually really nice, has a workshop, a patch of lawn, and a giant deck. The real estate photos look great, but don't they all... I get to see it friday but I think I may just go for it. Really my other option is to wait until January until I have enough years at the same employer to not be considered a risk. But the sooner I can settle in my own space the better for me.

I bought a fixer upper and with repairs/improvements feel like I'm making 2.5 mortgage payments every month. I'm sure it will be better in the long run, but I've had no life the past few years and probably won't for another three.

I was a bit miffed when a house close by sold for 70k at auction. I wished I could have gotten a house for that price. But then I saw all the work they had to do to it. First they jacked it up to replace the basement/foundation, then it looked like they had to rip all the windows out, sheathing off and reframe most of it. Roof needs replaced of course.

Don't think you can do quick HGTV makeovers without a crew and pile o money. It takes forever with one person only working a few weeknights and weekends while nickel and dime-ing it.

I think it's been 3 years for me. Bedrooms, living room, and bathroom are 100% done. I still owe 6k from borrowing money for big ticket items like having the main support beam replaced and whole house replumbed(will be paid off in a year). I'm having a new roof put on this year (because I feel too old to do it myself). Gutters look like crap, but are functional so they'll have to wait. Still have a crappy kitchen, zero landscaping, and the curb appeal sucks. The end is not in sight. When it is, it will be time to build a garage.

I've always lived in the country until my current house. I'm surrounded by huge trees, I'm next to a park, and all the houses in my area are very different from each other, so that helps.It's a trade off. My last house was half the price with 8x the land, but I had to drive 45 minutes each way to do anything (work, restaurants, shopping).A big part of my life was spent commuting and maintaining vehicles because the mileage racked up so fast.

I've never lived in a trailer park, but I've dated a few women who lived in them and my grandmother moved to one after outliving her retirement money.There seem to be good ones and bad ones. The good ones have annoying management that are on everyone's case, but they are careful about who they let move in and make sure everyone maintains their property.The bad ones have passive management who just collect the checks. You end up with a bunch of irresponsible and annoying neighbors.

I'm the type of person that doesn't like being told what to do with their property, but when it comes to trailer parks this is how it seems to work.

I work for a large regional consumer bank. We will not do any second liens on these, so you are robbing yourself of the ability to leverage what typically is the largest asset you have for future credit needs.

If you don't think you'll need access to this type of credit in the future, by all means go for it. But the banks don't care how nice it is, or if it's on a slab foundation, based on the depreciation may lenders don't want exposure to the risk.

I work for a large regional consumer bank. We will not do any second liens on these, so you are robbing yourself of the ability to leverage what typically is the largest asset you have for future credit needs.

If you don't think you'll need access to this type of credit in the future, by all means go for it. But the banks don't care how nice it is, or if it's on a slab foundation, based on the depreciation may lenders don't want exposure to the risk.

We are several posts in and nobody has mentioned living in a van... down by the river. I applaud you all for your restraint.

You might want to read my last post again with your good eye.

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"I really do feel pity for those who go out of their way to perform a personal slight, than taking the effort in joining the conversation and creating some useful dialogue which would benefit the persons' perusal of this topic. Yet where would we be without the persistant antagonist?"

someone posted this on facebook, I want my own framed copy for like the bathroom or something.

Stick it on the wall opposite your bed. When you wake up and don't want to go to work, it will serve as a reminder where you will eventually wind up.

Its tempting though.

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"I really do feel pity for those who go out of their way to perform a personal slight, than taking the effort in joining the conversation and creating some useful dialogue which would benefit the persons' perusal of this topic. Yet where would we be without the persistant antagonist?"

I'd say keep your costs to a minimum while you regroup and move forward. Housing is insanely expensive and overvalued in the east coast major cities in Australia. For people in Perth the idea that getting into your own home (i.e. a mortgage) to secure equity/credit etc. has for many, proven false as the property values came tumbling down. These people now owe more to the bank than their properties are valued at. Predictions are that the Melbourne and Sydney housing price bubbles may well burst in a similar way.

Doing what every one else is doing is not always the best approach to life. I sold my place, paid off my debts and am happy to rent for a couple of years while my wife and I change a few work/lifestyle things.

I think what Neph is doing is pretty cool. That may not suit alot of people, but I'm planning on moving into the country and NOT doing what every one else in the burbs is doing just as soon as I can.

Yeah using a house as a lean for equity is risky considering every few decades the housing bubble bursts and people get screwed from it. There's still no substitute for having a healthy savings account. Not living beyond your means is also sound advice. A mortgage is just a different form of credit after all.

Because many comedians are depressed. Booze, like laughter, is a coping mechanism that cannot fill the emptiness. Many comedians say that once they get off stage they feel the emptiness so they turn to other things to fill that void. Unfortunately it tends to be drugs and alcohol instead of seeking help they need. This is why so many comedians have dependency issues and end up overdosing.

Do the math. Live within your means, yes, but don't piss away money for dumb reasons. Money to a rent is wasted. Money into a mortgage can *generally* be recuperated years later by selling. Not being able to pay off a mortgage before you get old is a dumb reason. Nobody cares if your mortgage is paid off or not. Sell before you get *too* old.

Real estate is an investment and if you're level headed enough about it and don't make any stupid decisions it should appreciate in value.

And what's this nonsense about apartments being smelly? It would really depend on where, now wouldn't it?! Crappy low-income apartment building, sure. Higher end clean building with rules? No reason it should be like that.

I lived in a trailer in a trailer park for 5 years. It was a MAJOR upgrade from any apartment, including the high dollar "luxury" apartment I am in at the moment.

It was cheap living, and had benefits. It also had some negatives.

Top negatives were depreciation, the property it was on, weather related issues, and the stigma related to the type of home. It was an older trailer though, so more blankets in the winter, keep the swamp cooler working in the summer, and live with all the other issues. They really weren't all that bad, to be perfectly honest. And I used to laugh at the people who lived in the trailer park but had the hot tubs, the boat, the ATV's, the nice sports car, the big truck, and an RV. I couldn't believe someone would live in a place for poor people and then spend money on toys that will never retain any value. But as I grew older I realized that a home doesn't need to be the most expensive thing you own, and those people with all those toys are probably happier than someone with a nice house and nothing to do each weekend because they are spending all their money on a house. The only criticism I have for people like that is if they are buying those toys on credit and can't afford the trailer, let alone the toys. The ironic thing is now it is popular to build a small mobile home (aka tiny house) and live on the cheap so you can afford your toy heavy lifestyle.

The trailer I lived in was 14x70 (almost 1000 sq ft) and the loan payment was $189 per month. The lot rent was $120 per month. It was REALLY nice living for 5 years with my monthly housing payment being just over $300 per month. It beat the hell out of a $1000 mortgage, let alone a $2-3k mortgage. I can live with a deflated ego and extra blankets in the winter for that kind of savings, particularly when money was tight.

$150k seems too risky to me, but I don't know the area you are in, so I can't really judge that very well. Just be prepared to take a loss, so if you start with $50k, and lose 10%, it's gonna be easier than starting with $150k and losing that same 10%. I see it as the fastest way to resume your desired lifestyle within your budget. Anything else you are compromising on the space you want (or the flexibility of fixing it up). Just be prepared to lose money when you move on.

When my family first moved here to Montana, my parents were able to scrape together enough to buy a double wide mobile. Lived there for 4 years. When they went to sell, they ran into issues with the trailer park wanting the lot for a new customer (even though our trailer was brand new when we moved in), and had to sue to allow them to sell it in the existing lot. When I sold mine, I had to argue to keep it in the lot because my trailer was old and they wanted someone to move a newer one in. In both cases, if the lot had been removed from the deal, we would have been selling at a MASSIVE loss. Nobody wants to pay well for a trailer without a place to put it.

One more thing: A double wide mobile is NOT similar to an RV or a "tiny house". It is just a premanufactured home that has (or had) axles under it so it could be moved into place. Two very different life styles. A large doublewide can be over 2000 sq ft and in many cases most people would never be able to tell the difference if the home was sitting on a foundation on a regular lot. Apartment < Mobile < House. It is that simple to me, and a tiny home is under all of them. A condo or townhouse is right between Apartment and Mobile because you are sharing walls and basically live in an apartment you own instead of rent.

Trailers do not hold their value, like driving a car off the lot, the thing is you don't expect it to, Borrowing money on it as some kind of retirement fund seems silly (who does that?) with expectations of a mortgage saving the day.... However in practical terms it doesn't need too, the doorways are to small to move arcade machines in or out, so you need to take a chainsaw to it destroying its value anyway, The floors also create issue, they are 1/2" ply in the older ones, quickly warping under the stress of heavy games being moved, and the new ones have particle wood, quickly turning to mush when the roof leaks.... SO, unless you want to dump money into it, it is a poor decision.

I looked back through the thread trying to find the part where I was asking for financial advice - I didn't, I don't want it and I don't need it. Thanks people.

I saw it first hand today, it looks great. Lots of privacy, a hot tub, air conditioning, enough room for me to have dedicated music making space and large enough for my 3 cats to not get bored in. I dropped an offer and it was accepted immediately, looks like I can move in August 31 unless the mortgage broker finds some way to ruin this for me. And, since last week when I first found it, they dropped the price to $140k. So that's a bonus.

If you are happy with the mobile home, go for it and be happy. You definately deserve it.

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"I really do feel pity for those who go out of their way to perform a personal slight, than taking the effort in joining the conversation and creating some useful dialogue which would benefit the persons' perusal of this topic. Yet where would we be without the persistant antagonist?"

If you are happy with the mobile home, go for it and be happy. You definately deserve it.

Thanks. Yeah it's about time things went my way. I had a mostly good day yesterday with the house thing, but I was doing my motorcyclke licence test and the computer went down at the issuing branch. Then I had a rotten day at work because people don't understand my job and don't see how it's an issue when 23 microphones go to the wrong actors and I'm supposed to just make it work. Stupid actors can't be trusted to pick up the mics with their name on it!

If you are happy with the mobile home, go for it and be happy. You definately deserve it.

Thanks. Yeah it's about time things went my way. I had a mostly good day yesterday with the house thing, but I was doing my motorcyclke licence test and the computer went down at the issuing branch. Then I had a rotten day at work because people don't understand my job and don't see how it's an issue when 23 microphones go to the wrong actors and I'm supposed to just make it work. Stupid actors can't be trusted to pick up the mics with their name on it!

If you are happy with the mobile home, go for it and be happy. You definately deserve it.

Thanks. Yeah it's about time things went my way. I had a mostly good day yesterday with the house thing, but I was doing my motorcyclke licence test and the computer went down at the issuing branch. Then I had a rotten day at work because people don't understand my job and don't see how it's an issue when 23 microphones go to the wrong actors and I'm supposed to just make it work. Stupid actors can't be trusted to pick up the mics with their name on it!

Just be thankful you don't live in the UK. Over here, the land alone would be worth several times what you paid for your "trailer" (which as others have already pointed out, would be regarded as a house in most parts of the world).

If that's a typical example of a trailer in the US, then I'd be more than happy to be described as "trailer trash".

It is called a mobile home here in canada, or a prefab. They build them then drop them on a foundation of sorts, then add some skirting to make it look pretty. They are pretty much non mobile after that. If you get a community of them they call it a trailer park. I dunno why you are all so fixated on this. In different parts of the world, we use different terminology.

If you are happy with the mobile home, go for it and be happy. You definately deserve it.

Thanks. Yeah it's about time things went my way. I had a mostly good day yesterday with the house thing, but I was doing my motorcyclke licence test and the computer went down at the issuing branch. Then I had a rotten day at work because people don't understand my job and don't see how it's an issue when 23 microphones go to the wrong actors and I'm supposed to just make it work. Stupid actors can't be trusted to pick up the mics with their name on it!

Just be thankful you don't live in the UK. Over here, the land alone would be worth several times what you paid for your "trailer" (which as others have already pointed out, would be regarded as a house in most parts of the world).

If that's a typical example of a trailer in the US, then I'd be more than happy to be described as "trailer trash".

Except Trailer Trash in the UK means lazy louts and yobbos, that live in council houses. I would not want to be associated to neither ilk.

People live in trailers due to their circumstances, in the UK we would call them "pikeys". You got friggin loads of holiday caravans dotted all around the north and south of England. I don't know about Scotland, as it is grim up north, they might call it something else.

"I really do feel pity for those who go out of their way to perform a personal slight, than taking the effort in joining the conversation and creating some useful dialogue which would benefit the persons' perusal of this topic. Yet where would we be without the persistant antagonist?"